Political backstabbing after losing premiership – Ranil

Former Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe in an interview with the BBC, said that he has been facing a political backstabbing situation in the wake of losing the Premiership. “That’s to be expected in politics,” the ex-Prime Minister had reportedly said in the interview.

Last week, President Maithripala Sirisena sacked PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Cabinet and then prorogued Parliament, appointing former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new PM.

The former PM who claims to have the majority in Parliament has stressed to convene Parliament immediately.

“The Constitution states that the President must appoint as Prime Minister, the person who commands the confidence of Parliament and I am the person who has that. We have asked for the summoning of Parliament, so I can prove my majority in the House. Public opinion does not accept the actions of the President,” Wickremesinghe told the BBC at Temple Trees. “This type of crisis really causes a big issue for the people, a lack of confidence. Look, you promised to restore democracy, you’ve taken so many steps, and here in the main question, you disregard the powers of Parliament,” the ex-PM said.